Cost of Living in Mexico

"If one buys local or Mexican brands, food is relatively inexpensive. Eating out is 1/2 or less than in the U.S. The cost of living monthly is dependent on: a. If you own a home.
b. your lifestyle. We projected that we will save between $8 -10,000 annually by living here. Gone are the $150/mo. water and sewer bills and the $180 / gas and electricity. Every little bit of savings adds up," explained one expat living in Ajijic.

"Living in Mexico can be a cost-effective alternative to living in the United States. Many people report saving money through lower costs of housing, utilities, food, and transportation. Additionally, the cost of living in Mexico is generally lower than in the U.S., making it possible to enjoy a higher standard of living with a smaller budget. With the weaker peso, it is often possible to get more bang for your buck, or achieve greater purchasing power with the same amount of money," said one expat in Mexico.

"Initial indications are that living in Mexico will meet or exceed our expectations. Our motivation was to find a place where we could live within our income until such time as we may require assisted living... Having gone through a number of years of paying over $6,000 a month for a family member in assisted living was a big reason for our move. We didn't want to put this kind of burden on our children. Assisted living here, if needed, is affordable and the care meets or exceeds what we paid for earlier..," remarked one in Ajijic.

"My costs are much lower. I could never have this type of home in the USA for this price. The average cost of renting an apartment in Puebla is $5000 MXN, and a modern, brand new home would be twice the price," remarked one expat in Puebla.

"The cost of housing in Mexico varies greatly depending on where you live. In general, the cost of housing in cities is more expensive than in rural areas. The cost of renting an apartment in Mexico can range from relatively affordable to quite expensive, depending on the size and location. On average, housing in Mexico is significantly cheaper than in many other countries, and is particularly affordable in rural areas," explained one expat living in Mexico.

"Thank god the company pays for it. The cost for an apartment is anywhere from $1,800 usd to over $5,000 usd. We are currently paying $3,800 per month utilities included," said one expat in Mexico City.

"Expenses here are FAR lower than the USA even though Real Estate here has gone up in price. Still very affordable. I live in So. Rosarito close to Puerto Nuevo. My house is on a Hillside above the ocean with spectacular Views of the Ocean and coastline. I have a 3 bedroom house, 3 baths home with huge view patio and enclosed parking for 3 cars. This for a fraction of the cost of an ocean view home in California. If you are looking to rent, Ocean view and ocean front places are low price and vary from area to area. Many American colonies here have 24/7 guards and security. Rents vary from about 400 USD to well under 2000 USD. Depending on size and area, Everything from small apartments to huge view homes are available," wrote a person living in Rosarito.

"Oh, much lower!! We pay $400. (US)/ month for our house. In San Diego, California, the rent for such a place would be about $1500./month. You can rent a 1 bedroom apt. in TJ for as little as $80. (US)/mo. but I don't think too many Americans/Canadians would be happy with the lack of space, amenities and location. There are also lovely places here for $1000./mo. but those renters/owners are considered to be "rich" and could be a target for robbery," explained one expat living in Tijuana.

"The rental costs of nice 1 bedroom apartments in Mexico usually range from $400-$700 USD per month. For a nice 2 bedroom apartment, the cost increases to $700-$1000 USD per month," remarked one expat living in Mexico.

"Generally, rental properties in Mexico come with basic appliances such as a refrigerator, stove, and washing machine. Some properties may also include air conditioners, microwave ovens, and/or coffee makers. Depending on the property, some additional features such as a dishwasher may also be provided," said one expat living in Mexico.